Valentine Swap--To Sandy from Me

For Sandy's Valentine swap, I read over her blog and business to try to figure what she likes and what colors she may like.  She was into needlework things....her site has the colors of pink and brown...and she likes cats...so, I made her this needlebook.  Oh, and it has the required "heart on it" that the swap rules stipulated. 

Yes, other than tracing a cat head from someone, this is my own design and idea (I'm working on another one to sell in my Etsy shop). 

She sounded like she liked it...hope you do too. 

Felt Projects

I had been wanting to work on some fresh products...and projects that traveled well when we went to Montana.  While actual "felting" sounds intriguing, I figure that is something I don't want to do right now.  However, I love the idea of stitching onto felt.  I've embroidered since I was quite young--my grandmother taught me--and have done many projects moving on to cross stitch in my younger adult years.  I liked the idea of embroidering and stitching beads onto felt, so I bought many different colors of quality felt and have been stitching ever since.  It takes me forever to finish something these days, but it has been such fun coming up with ideas and actually doing them.  There are so many ideas in my head...now just for the time to DO them.  Here are some projects I've finished....

This has not only beads and embroidery but also some small vintage crochet pieces found at a barn sale and a thrift shop.

This one was fun!  You know I love roses and old doors (just check out my Pinterest pins). 

This needlebook took me awhile to do.  I was inspired by the springtime needlebook swap hosted by Button Floozies this past spring.  The inside has more embroidery and a little pocket and place for needles. 

All of these are listed in my Etsy shop and are for sale (along with some other felt projects including a pair of earrings).  

Button Floozies Spring Needlebook Swap

Laurie at Button Floozies (one of my new favorite blogs) was the hostess of a swap--the Spring Needlebook Swap.  We were to send a partner a needlebook with a spring theme including, of course, buttons.  This again was a swap that took me out of my comfort zone since I'm not that good at sewing.  I had my idea in mind but found it hard to turn it into something tangible.  The person I was to send mine to is Laura--such a nice person!  She has received hers (she doesn't have a blog), so I'll post here what I sent her. 

It is made of felt.  I did a little bit of embroidery on it and sewed these sweet rose buttons on it. The birdhouse "opening" is a pretty vintage button.  I tried to find a bird button in my stash--a pretty duck could be found...but no springtime bird.  So...I decided to make a bird (hopefully it looks like one) out of two buttons and some embroidery.

Of course, I had to "sign" it with more embroidery and a little heart button.  Enjoy!

Spring Needlebook Swap

This sounds like such a fun swap.  Laurie at Button Floozies is hostessing a swap where we are to make a spring-themed needlebook.  I've never done something like this before, but I've been researching needlebooks and have some great ideas.  Now if I can just get that idea made into a needlebook!  Go ahead over to her blog for all the details and to sign up.